Frances Bavier — beloved by millions as Aunt Bee on “The Andy Griffith Show” — faced her lonely final days filled with bitterness because Andy Griffith had heartlessly turned his back on her!
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Frances Bavier — beloved by millions as Aunt Bee on
"The Andy Griffith Show" — faced her lonely final days filled with bitterness because
Andy Griffith had heartlessly turned his back on her!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Stricken by terminal breast cancer, Frances spent her final days in Siler City, N.C. — the same state that was home to Sheriff Andy Taylor's fictional hometown of Mayberry. "She bought a house in Andy's home state so she could retain the folksy family feeling of the show and live near Andy," an insider revealed to
The National ENQUIRER.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Stricken by terminal breast cancer, Frances spent her final days in Siler City, N.C. — the same state that was home to Sheriff Andy Taylor's fictional hometown of Mayberry. "She bought a house in Andy's home state so she could retain the folksy family feeling of the show and live near Andy," an insider revealed to
The National ENQUIRER.
"He has a large estate nearby," the source added shortly after Frances' death, "and she thought she would see a lot of him. But to her bitter disappointment, once the show was over in 1968,
Andy forgot all about her!"4 of 11
Photo credit: Getty Images
"During the eight years 'The Andy Griffith Show" was on the air, she thought Andy would always remain her dear friend," the insider continued. "Frances told me, 'I was so happy surrounded by what I thought was love and family when I worked with Andy."
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Photo credit: Getty Images
"When he failed to see me, call or show any interest in whether I was dead or alive," added Frances, "I felt as though I'd been betrayed by a family member!'"
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Tragically, Frances — who died in 1989 at the age of 86 — was only left more embittered when Andy finally did get in touch. The actress, already in frail health, was only saddened when Andy contacted her to play Aunt Bee in the 1986 reunion TV-movie "Return to Mayberry."
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Tragically, Frances — who died in 1989 at the age of 86 — was only left more embittered when Andy finally did get in touch. The actress, already in frail health, was only saddened when Andy contacted her to play Aunt Bee in the 1986 reunion TV-movie "Return to Mayberry."
"Years and years go by and I don't hear a peep from Andy," she complained to an insider. "Now when he's doing a big reunion show, he wants me back! Years ago, I would have jumped at the chance to do a reunion — but not anymore. Even if I was in better health, I wouldn't do it!"
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Frances was so incensed that not even
Ron Howard, who grew up playing Andy's son Opie on the series, could change her mind. Ron had been one of the few cast members who cared enough to stay in touch with Frances in the years after the show ended, said one of Howard's close pals.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Frances was so incensed that not even
Ron Howard, who grew up playing Andy's son Opie on the series, could change her mind. Ron had been one of the few cast members who cared enough to stay in touch with Frances in the years after the show ended, said one of Howard's close pals.
But when Ron visited her North Carolina home to talk her into appearing on the TV movie, Frances sent him away without even letting him in the door! "She was insistent," said the close pal, "and Ron could tell her feelings were hurt. Ron was upset, too, but he continued to keep in contact with her. He's always thought of Frances as a real-life Aunt Bee."
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Frances was so incensed that not even
Ron Howard, who grew up playing Andy's son Opie on the series, could change her mind. Ron had been one of the few cast members who cared enough to stay in touch with Frances in the years after the show ended, said one of Howard's close pals.
But when Ron visited her North Carolina home to talk her into appearing on the TV movie, Frances sent him away without even letting him in the door! "She was insistent," said the close pal, "and Ron could tell her feelings were hurt. Ron was upset, too, but he continued to keep in contact with her. He's always thought of Frances as a real-life Aunt Bee."
Frances then became more bitter when her character was killed off in the TV movie. But as she lay dying, she still longed to hear from her co-stars — especially Andy. "Since she has been in the hospital," said a source before her death, "Frances Bavier has been asking to see some of the old cast members. She particularly said she wanted to see Andy Griffith again."
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Photo credit: Getty Images
But Andy doesn't want to see her, according to insiders. "We haven't had any contact with Frances in years," said Richard O. Linke, Andy's longtime manager until the star's death in 2012. Andy told a longtime friend: "I want the best for Frances. But I've had nothing to do with her for a long time — and it's too late to reenter her life now!"
Frances Bavier — beloved by millions as Aunt Bee on
"The Andy Griffith Show" — faced her lonely final days filled with bitterness because
Andy Griffith had heartlessly turned his back on her!
Stricken by terminal breast cancer, Frances spent her final days in Siler City, N.C. — the same state that was home to Sheriff Andy Taylor's fictional hometown of Mayberry. "She bought a house in Andy's home state so she could retain the folksy family feeling of the show and live near Andy," an insider revealed to
The National ENQUIRER.
Photo credit: Getty Images
"He has a large estate nearby," the source added shortly after Frances' death, "and she thought she would see a lot of him. But to her bitter disappointment, once the show was over in 1968,
Andy forgot all about her!""During the eight years 'The Andy Griffith Show" was on the air, she thought Andy would always remain her dear friend," the insider continued. "Frances told me, 'I was so happy surrounded by what I thought was love and family when I worked with Andy."
Photo credit: Getty Images
"When he failed to see me, call or show any interest in whether I was dead or alive," added Frances, "I felt as though I'd been betrayed by a family member!'"
Photo credit: Getty Images
Tragically, Frances — who died in 1989 at the age of 86 — was only left more embittered when Andy finally did get in touch. The actress, already in frail health, was only saddened when Andy contacted her to play Aunt Bee in the 1986 reunion TV-movie "Return to Mayberry."
Photo credit: Getty Images
"Years and years go by and I don't hear a peep from Andy," she complained to an insider. "Now when he's doing a big reunion show, he wants me back! Years ago, I would have jumped at the chance to do a reunion — but not anymore. Even if I was in better health, I wouldn't do it!"
Frances was so incensed that not even
Ron Howard, who grew up playing Andy's son Opie on the series, could change her mind. Ron had been one of the few cast members who cared enough to stay in touch with Frances in the years after the show ended, said one of Howard's close pals.
Photo credit: Getty Images
But when Ron visited her North Carolina home to talk her into appearing on the TV movie, Frances sent him away without even letting him in the door! "She was insistent," said the close pal, "and Ron could tell her feelings were hurt. Ron was upset, too, but he continued to keep in contact with her. He's always thought of Frances as a real-life Aunt Bee."
Frances then became more bitter when her character was killed off in the TV movie. But as she lay dying, she still longed to hear from her co-stars — especially Andy. "Since she has been in the hospital," said a source before her death, "Frances Bavier has been asking to see some of the old cast members. She particularly said she wanted to see Andy Griffith again."
But Andy doesn't want to see her, according to insiders. "We haven't had any contact with Frances in years," said Richard O. Linke, Andy's longtime manager until the star's death in 2012. Andy told a longtime friend: "I want the best for Frances. But I've had nothing to do with her for a long time — and it's too late to reenter her life now!"
Photo credit: Getty Images